July 21, 2017: Why Comic-Con Now Belongs to the Fans, Ticketmaster Wants New York to Legalize Paperless Tickets, Lana Del Rey Changes Stage Visuals Due to Politics

1. WHY COMIC-CON NOW BELONGS TO THE FANS: While Comic-Con International used to be just an industry event for comic-book artists and vendors, the rise of elaborate TV show and film promotions that go beyond the San Diego Convention Center has turned the event into an experience that primarily caters to fans. Vanity Fair: “For media outlets that wait in endless lines to cram themselves into Hall H, Comic-Con has become a frustrating scramble to create some kind of newsworthy headline around panels that no longer contain any news and are eventually posted online for anyone at home to see anyway. But for the fans who are excited enough to simply share the same air with their favorite stars and creators—and then get to venture to the convention floor to buy some Star Wars merch or have an Outlander star sign their poster—it’s working out just fine. And isn‘t that the original point of Comic-Con to begin with? That’s not even considering everything going on outside the convention center. As of Wednesday night, Game of Thrones lovers were already camped out not outside Hall H, but outside a downtown San Diego address where HBO had set up an immersive ‘Winter Is Here’ experience for Westerosi fanatics. There’s also the Blade Runner 2049 experience, the ‘Join the Hunt for Clues’ American Horror Story experience at FX’s usual splashy bayfront location, and a ‘Live Without Limits’ Westworld experience, which beckons fans to an undisclosed off-site location. In other words, studios have found a way to give their fans a one-of-a-kind, on-the-ground experience that has nothing to do with the casting announcements, leakable footage, or plot details that once drove Hall H panels. That’s bad news for the media, but it’s unclear if the fans even care. In recent years, the happiest spot in town is the cosplay-heavy scrum outside the convention center, where eager fans of every genre fling compliments at each other while wearing their hearts on their latex, leather, or bodypaint-smeared sleeves. The glossy corporations are still in charge, but they’re now focusing on serving the badge-buying fans rather than the line-skipping media.” http://bit.ly/2ueIWey

2. TICKETMASTER WANTS NEW YORK TO LEGALIZE PAPERLESS TICKETS: Ticketmaster is urging Gov. Cuomo to legalize the sale of paperless tickets in New York. New York Daily News: “‘New York should lift its antiquated ban on paperless ticketing,’ Ticketmaster urged Cuomo. ‘This option, available to entertainers in every state in the country except New York, makes it easier for face-value tickets to get into the hands of real fans.’ The company also wants to bar re-sellers from offering tickets they don’t yet possess, end deceptive marketing by resellers, and reject a push by some to require the public disclosure of ticket inventory, which Ticketmaster says would give scalpers an unfair advantage. ‘Addressing these issues would improve the ticket marketplace for fans in New York and make it easier for them to buy tickets at a fair price for their favorite events,’ the Ticketmaster letter says." http://nydn.us/2tIPD6s

3. LANA DEL REY CHANGES STAGE VISUALS DUE TO POLITICS: Singer Lana Del Rey, who releases her new album, Lust for Life, today, said in a recent interview that the current U.S. political climate, along with President Donald Trump, has had a sobering impact on her tour and concerts, particularly the stage visuals and projections. Mashable: "'I definitely changed my visuals on my tour videos,' Del Rey said in an extensive interview with Pitchfork published this week. 'I’m not going to have the American flag waving while I’m singing ‘Born to Die.’ It’s not going to happen. I’d rather have static. It’s a transitional period, and I’m super aware of that. I think it would be inappropriate to be in France with an American flag. It would feel weird to me now—it didn’t feel weird in 2013.'" http://on.mash.to/2ueGkgu

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Maritz Travel—a Maritz Global Events Company will host a new traveling event series focused on healthcare compliance. The “On the Road to Healthcare Compliance” lunch and learn road tour will go to Tampa on August 10, San Diego on September 7, Chicago on October 19, and Philadelphia on October 24. More information can be found here: http://bit.ly/2uMPZOs

CHICAGO:  Stratford on the Park, a new private event venue from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, is slated to open in Lincoln Park in September. Located in the historic Belden Stratford venue, the space will accommodate 150 seated and 200 for receptions, and will have a patio debuting in spring 2018. 

LAS VEGAS:  Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is slated to unveil a major expansion in August. The expansion will nearly double the size of the casino floor, expand Freemont Street Experience’s One Bar by 20 feet, and feature a redesigned Fremont Street façade.

LOS ANGELES:  The annual Stu and the Kids Fundraiser will be held on July 30 at Vibiana. Local chefs and restaurants will be showcasing Thai-inspired food and beverages, and proceeds will support the orphaned Hill Tribe children of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The 30th annual Long Beach Jazz Festival will take place August 11-13 at Rainbow Lagoon Park. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

NEW YORK:  American Cancer Society’s Taste of Hope Comes to Broadway fund-raising event will take place Monday at 318 West 47th Street. 

The third annual The Next Big Bite will take place October 16 at the Institute of Culinary Education. The event is sponsored by Les Dames d’Escoffier New York. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

SAN DIEGO:  The third edition of Kaaboo Del Mar, a music and arts festival, will take place September 15-17 at the Del Mar Racetrakc. Headliners include Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The event will have a culinary stage with demonstrations from Michael Voltaggio, Robert Irvine, Richard Blais, and Kelis. The event also will showcase a Palate program, offering samples from a variety of local food and beverage vendors. 

SAN FRANCISCO:  The second annual Marin Music Festival will take place October 14 at the Marin Rod & Gun Club in San Rafael. The event will have live performances from local bands, arts and crafts booths, food trucks, kids activities, and more. 

TORONTO:  This year’s Rogers Cup tennis tournament, presented by National Bank, will take place August 5-13 at the Aviva Centre. 

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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